Flying airplane trainer

ABSTRACT

An airplane adapted to be flown as a trainer and secured by linkages and a spring to a roller moving on a track ring attached to a derrick whereby the airplane will not crash and will automatically descend in proper manner if trouble arises during flight.

United States Patent 1191 Anderson, Jr.

[ FLYING AIRPLANE TRAINER [76] Inventor: Arnold Anderson, Jr., 509

Northwest Ave., Ardmore, Okla. 73401 [22] Filed: Aug. 14, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 63,775

[52] US. Cl 35/12 P, 272/31 A [51] Int. Cl G09b 9/08, 864g 7/00 [58] Field of Search 35/12 P; 272/31 A, 272/31 B, 34

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,896,947 7/1959 Jacobs 35/12 K X 2,219,658 10/1940 Pasek 11] 3,760,5ifi

[ Sept. 25, 1973 1,866,432 7/1932 Urban 272/31 A 2,067,258 1/1937 Christiansen 272/34 x FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,003,296 9/1965 Great Britain 272/31 B 365,875 1/1932 Great Britain 35/12 P Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant ExaminerL. R. Oremland AttorneyJerry J. Dunlap et a1.

[5 7 ABSTRACT An airplane adapted to be flown as a trainer and secured by linkages and a spring to a roller moving on a track n'ng attached to a derrick whereby the airplane will not crash and will automatically descend in proper manner if trouble arises during flight.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 FLYING AIRPLANE TRAINER SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION My invention is directed toward an airplane which can be actually flown and used for training pilots and yet, at the same time, can be crash proof.

To this end, I provide an airplane propeller driven by an electric motor. The airplane is attached by a ball and socket joint to a long steel arm or beam curved at the end connected to the ball. The other end of the beam is secured to one end of a telescoping or expanding coil spring. The beam at a point adjacent the other end is pivotally and rotatably secured to the top of a derrick. The other end of the spring is secured to a roller confined to travel along a horizontal circular track centered on the derrick. Power is supplied to the plane motor through the beam.

The airplane can be a high wing monoplane with all essential features and controls but is much lighter in weight than more conventional aircraft. The airplane flies in large circles and requires lesser flying speeds than conventionally employed. Flying maneuvers include (but are not restricted to) take offs, landings, straight flight, steep banks and stalls. Either stick or wheel controls can be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of my invention in use;

FIG. 2 is a detail view of a roller used in my invention;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of the top portion of a derrick used in my invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, a monoplane has an electric motor (not shown) powering propeller 12. An elongated metal arm 14 has a curved end 16 extending downward to connect to a rotatable ball 18 disposed in socket 20 supported in the top center of the fuselage.

The other end 22 of the arm is secured to one end of a coil spring 24.

A derrick 26 has a rotatable bearing 28 secured to the top thereof, the bearing being rotatable about a vertical axis. A vertical loop 30 extends upward from the bearing and rotates therewith. A horizontal pin 32 spans loop 30. Arm 14 extends through the loop and is pivotally disposed about pin 32 at a point adjacent end 22.

A hollow toroid 36 is disposed in a horizontal plane about the top of the derrick and defines a horizontal circular interior channel 34 accessible via a top horizontal circular slot 38.

A roller 40 is provided with four wheels 42A which are parallel, rotate about horizontal axes and ride on the bottom of channel 34. Roller 40 is also provided with four like parallel wheels 4213 which ride on the top of the channel. Roller 40 is secured by rotatable connector 44 to theother end of the spring 24.

Electric power can be supplied through an on-off switch at the base of the derrick through a cable in arm 14 to the airplane to operate the airplane motor.

The use of the loop and spring will constrain the movement of the arm and prevent a crash, should trouble occur during flight. This constraint will determine how high and how low the plane can travel.

The airplane can have two side by side front seats, and, if desired can have one or more rear seats as well. The drawings show an airplane with tricycle landing gear. Tail dragger landing gear can also be used.

The ball and socket can be regulated, if desired, to control the degree of turn.

While I have described my invention with particular reference to the drawings, such is not to be considered as limiting its actual scope.

Having thus described this invention, what is asserted as new is:

1. A flying airplane trainer comprising:

a vertical support;

bearing means mounted on theupper portion of said support for rotating about a vertical axis;

a vertical loop extending upward from said bearing means and secured thereto to be rotatable therewith;

an elongated arm having opposite ends and pivotally secured within said vertical loop at a point intermediate the opposite ends thereof;

an airplane positioned at one end of said arm;

means for securing said airplane to the one end of said arm for pivotal and rotational movement of said airplane relative to said arm;

a hollow toroid disposed horizontally around said support and defining a horizontal circular channel;

a roller riding in the channel; and

spring means interconnecting said roller and said arm.

2. The flying airplane trainer as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring means is a coil spring.

3. The flying airplane trainer as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said airplane to the one end of said arm is characterized further to include;

a socket mounted in the upper portion of said airplane; and

a ball rotatably secured within said socket and connected to the one end of said arm. 

1. A flying airplane trainer comprising: a vertical support; bearing means mounted on the upper portion of said support for rotating about a vertical axis; a vertical loop extending upward from said bearing means and secured thereto to be rotatable therewith; an elongated arm having opposite ends and pivotally secured within said vertical loop at a point intermediate the opposite ends thereof; an airplane positioned at one end of said arm; means for securing said airplane to the one end of said arm for pivotal and rotational movement of said airplane relative to said arm; a hollow toroid disposed horizontally around said support and defining a horizontal circular channel; a roller riding in the channel; and spring means interconnecting said roller and said arm.
 2. The flying airplane trainer as defined in claim 1 wherein said spring means is a coil spring.
 3. The flying airplane trainer as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for securing said airplane to the one end of said arm is characterized further to include; a socket mounted in the upper portion of said airplane; and a ball rotatably secured within said socket and connected to the one end of said arm. 